Universal Programmable (Computer to IR Sensor) Interface - UPI

The Air Force has a requirement to ground test installed IR/EO sensors by direct signal injection of computer generated imagery (CGI) into their post detector electronics. Specifically, the Air Force desires to develop a flexible Universal Programmable Interface (UPI) that can properly condition the CGI signal for injection into the IR/EO sensor, independent of sensor configuration. TSC has formulated two innovative commercial, off-the-shelf (COTS) approaches to the UPI based on our experience in developing software and hardware for design, and testing IR sensors. The first approach utilizes a video processor to provide the interface between the CG I and the sensor at processing rates up to 40 M pixels/sec. This is adequate for current sensor technology. The second approach utilizes programmable Digital Signal Processor (DSP) boards that can be configured in parallel to achieve the processing rate of 150 M pixel/sec. Both approaches are programmed on standard workstations and can be dynamically reconfigured. An adiditonal innovation is that our UPI accesses data internal to the CGI unit and operates on the more primitive data to provide the appropriate signal to the IR/EO sensor under test. The Phase I work plan consists of defining interfaces between the UPI and (a) the sensor processor (post detector electronics) and (b) the CGI unit, and then developing techniques to implement the UPI. This Phase I proposal demonstrates the work plan "by example"; i.e., by providng a preliminary definition of the interface and development of the two innovative UPI designs.